2025/07/04 by Bekele, Abdissa, Begna, Mekonnon
#Characterization #External mound #Internal mound #Soil fertility #Termite species
paper · doi:10.20372/pfj19003
Termites (Isoptera) have a significant impact in changing soil properties in boosting the fertility of soil in their mounds. This study was conducted to characterize the properties of soils under termite mounds and adjacent soils in Bedele district, South Western Ethiopia. External and internal termite mounds were enriched with clay. The soil bulk density was not significantly different under termite mounds and adjacent soil. The pH (H2O) of the soil under adjacent soil (4.20) was less than the pH (H2O) under internal (4.37) and external termite mounds (4.45). Exchangeable acidity of the adjacent soil (2.98 cmolckg-1) was higher than the soil under internal (2.31 cmolkg-1) and external mounds (2.10 cmolkg-1). The soil organic matter in the adjacent soil (4.47%) was lower than that found under internal (4.97%) and external (4.93%) termite mounds. This study provided the variation of soil properties under termite mounds and adjacent soils variability of Bedele district which may be used to take care for sustainable land use for grazing, settlement and agricultural productivity. Further investigation is needed to identify termite species and their impacts on soil fertility and productivity.